760-434-4301
760-434-4301

Overview of Implant Placement

by | Sep 7, 2026 | Best Dental Implants Carlsbad

Overview of Implant Placement

Top Rated Carlsbad Oral Surgeon

The Surgical Procedure

The procedure to place an implant can be as quick as 30 to 60 minutes. The number of appointments and time required vary from patient to patient. The surgeon will bring great precision and attention to the details of your case.

Prior to surgery, you may receive antibiotics to improve the outcome of the surgery.  For greater comfort, intravenous sedation, oral sedation, or nitrous oxide (laughing gas) may be used. We discuss these options with you at your consultation appointment. A local anesthetic will be administered to numb the area where the implant will be placed.

When you are comfortable, the surgeon makes a small incision in the gum tissue to reveal the bone, creates space using special instruments, and gently inserts the titanium implant. The top of this implant is often visible through the gum. Sometimes, it is better to keep the implant covered by gum tissue during the early stages of healing.

The Healing Phase

Now the healing begins. The length of time varies from person to person, depending upon the quality and quantity of bone. The surgeon will advise you on follow-up care and timing. After the initial healing phase, the surgeon places an abutment (support post) or a healing cap on the implant during a brief follow-up visit. This allows gum tissue to mature and provides access to the implant.
Occasionally, impressions are taken when the implant is placed. This helps ensure the crown is ready when the implants have healed. How long your mouth needs to heal is determined by a variety of factors. Follow-up care (one to four appointments) is usually needed to ensure that your mouth is healing well and to determine when you are ready for the restorative phase of your treatment.
A soft tissue graft may help provide stronger, easier-to-clean, natural-looking gum tissue around the implant. This process involves moving a small amount of gum tissue from one part of your mouth to the area around the implant.
Whether it’s one tooth or all of your teeth that are being replaced, your dentist will complete the restoration by fitting the replacement tooth (crown) to the dental implant.

When Are Dental Implants Placed?

Dentists often place implants several months after extraction. Sometimes, an implant may be placed immediately after a tooth extraction. This may simplify the process—you won’t have to wait for another appointment to place the implant. If infection or other bone problems are present, immediate implant placement is not the best treatment.

If your tooth has been missing for some time, the adjacent support bone is likely to grow thinner and shrink. This occurs because the root of the natural tooth has to be present to stimulate the bone. If you are missing enough bone, you may benefit from having additional bone grafted into the area. This ensures the implant is adequately supported when placed in the jaw.

How Many Implants Do I Need?

Most often, one implant is placed for each missing tooth. Because many of the larger teeth in the back of your jaws have two or three roots, the most common approach is to replace missing back teeth with larger implants.

Contact Info For The Best Oral Surgeon in Carlsbad

Our office wants to make sure every visit is the best it can be. Please be sure to let us know if you have any concerns before your appointment.

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1289 Carlsbad Village Dr.
Carlsbad, CA 92008

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